Human Enhancement Medication for Older Workers Raises Concerns

In an article from The Telegraph, a growing number of medications are being developed to add a boost to assist older people. These medical developments are called "human enhancements" because they reduce the effects of ageing, by keeping the brain young.

The new report was published by the British Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Elderly adults with mild cognitive impairment and completely healthy people would benefit.

Other methods such as "brain training" games or electrical stimulation of the brain could also be used in future to augment people's cognitive powers. Therapies such as "brain training" are valuable by allowing people to remain in work longer without the side effects of medication.

The "human resources" advancements will assist the older workforce age 55 or 60 whose cognitive functioning is lower than people in their 20s. Older workers may not be able to able to keep up with their younger colleagues, so this may be a way to boost cognition and performance. Tight regulation is recommended to prevent the wealthier or healthier from gaining an unfair advantage.

Ethicist Professor Jackie Leach Scully, from the University of Newcastle, told The Telegraph that there are concerns that any drug which begin to be adopted by healthy people would have to be tightly regulated. British ethicists believe that "human enhancements" could pressure people into using the technology for fear of losing ground to their colleagues.

Cognitive scientists in the USA and Canada are keeping a close eye on developments in Britain.